Trace-tightener.



No. 813,866, PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

' G.S.DAVBY.

TRACE TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@ZZZZ min No. 813,866. I PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

G. S. DAVEY.

TRACE TIGHTENER.

APPLIGA'TION FILED A G. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETSSEEET 2.

. Tighteners, of which GEORGE S. DAVEY, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN.

TRACE-TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No. 222,167.

To (10% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that-I, GEORGE S. DAVEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Frankfort, county of Benzie, and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace or Tug thefollowing is a description.

My invention relates to means for attaching draft-animals to theirloads, especially vehicles and the like, and has for its object theproduction of a device for the purpose described which shall be strongand convenient in its operation and which is provided with means formaintaining a slight tension on the traces under all conditions.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar referencecharacters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan viewof my device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevationof a modified form of my device. Fig. 4 is a section taken substantiallyon line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows my device as applied to an ordinarypair of thills. Fig. 6 shows my device as applied to the tongue of avehicle, and Fig. 7 shows my device as applied to a curved carria etongue or pole.

- n the preferred form of my device, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) 1 is aclevis or equivalent part having a pin 2, to which the whiffletree orother device for attaching one or more draftanimals is secured. A slide3 is formed upon one limb of the clevis 1, arranged to slidelongitudinally upon the guide or ways 4, which are preferably formedfrom a single piece of material arranged to be attached in any preferredmanner to the load to be moved;

A curved arm 5 is formed upon the forward end of the guide 4, having itsend 6 forked to engage the end of the pin 2 when at its forward limit ofmovement. A stop 7 is also formed, preferably, between the ways of theuide 4 to engage the slide 3, so that when the forked end 6 of the arm 5engages the pin 2 the stop 7 will engage the slide 3, preferablysimultaneously communicating the draft upon the pin 2 to the stop 7 andarm 5 and relieving the ways from any strain when the clevis reachesthis position.

Normally the clevis 1 is resiliently held at the-opposite end of theways from the arm 5 by a spring 8 or equivalent means attached to theclevis 1 in any preferred manner and to an extension 9 on the ways 4, asshown, or equivalent means for the purpose.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the end 6of the arm 5 is extended backwardand connected to the extension 9, and a slot 10 is provided in theextension through which the pin 2 projects and moves substantially asbefore "described.

Any desired method may be employed to attach my device to vehicles orother loads, the methods shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 having proved verysatisfactory in practice and clearly illustrates the manner in which mydevice is intended to be employed. In operation when a horse or otheranimal is attached to a vehicle or other object by my device the clevis1 may be moved forward slightly upon the ways to connect the tugs, sothat even when backing the load the spring 8 will have sufficienttension to keep the traces up and prevent their becoming unhooked. Assoon as tension is put upon the traces to move the load forward theclevis 1 moves to the front end of the ways 4, the slide 3 contacts withthe stop 7, and the pin 2 engages the arm 5, providin a firm attachmentfor moving the load. y slack in the traces will be instantly taken up,avoiding the risk of accidental unhitching.

As shown in Fig. 5, the front part of my de vice is secured to thecross-bar 18, while braces 11 11 firmly connect thc rear to the thills12 12, thus serving to firmly maintain the parts in proper relativeposition. The swingletree 13 is shown attached to the clevis l, with thetugs or traces 14 14 properly secured thereto.

Fig. 6 shows my device secured to the ordinary straight wagon-tongu'e,the device lying flat thereon and securely attached thereto by bolts,screws, or other suitable means. As here shown, the doubletree or evener15 is in place in the clevis, provided with the usual swingletrees 1616.

Fig. 7 shows my device attached to a bent pole, in which a suitablesupport 17 may be secured to the pole, forming a substantially fiat basefor the device, which is secured thereto and to the pole.

Having thus described my improvement, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention. Hence I do not IIO wish to be understood as limitingmyself to the exact form and construction shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device of the kind described, consist ing of a substantially Ushaped guide provided with means for securing the same in position, incombination with a slidable clevis, lateral extensions on the base ofsaid clevis adapted to engage and loosely embrace lateral extensions onthe upper parts of said guide, a pin 2, movement of said clevis and pinbeing parallel to said guide, resilient means tending to draw andnormally maintain the clevis near the rear end of said guide, and a stopand arm arranged in the path of the clevis and pin adapted tosimultaneously engage the base of the clevis and upper part of the pinrespectively. p

2. A device of the kind described, consisting of a substantially Ushaped guide provided with means for securing the same in position, incombination with a slidable clevis, lateral extensions on the base ofsaid clevis adapted to engage and loosely embrace lateral extensions onthe upper parts of said guide, a pin 2, movement of said clevis and pinbeing parallel to said guide, resilient means tending to draw andnormally maintain the clevis near the rear end of said guide, a stop andarm arranged in thepath of the clevis and pin adapted to simultaneouslyengage the base of the clevis and the upper part of the pinrespectively, and an extension of the arm adapted to engage the pin andmaintain the clevis against strain or displacement while sliding on theguide.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GEO. S. DAVEY. Witnesses:

LEVI W. DAVEY, J. T. MORRIS.

